The Concussion Legacy Foundation (learn more about us here) supports legislation that will protect the brains of young children by banning tackle football for our youngest and most vulnerable athletes. Our support is based on what we know about the risks of concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Tackle football is an exciting game to watch adults play, but it was never meant for young children with fragile, developing brains. Five-year-olds should not be getting hit in the head hundreds of times each fall.
Repetitive Head Impacts are linked to diseases like CTE and Parkinson's Disease
86 percent (211 of 246) of football players studied at the Boston University CTE Center have been diagnosed with CTE, and risk appears to be linked to how many years they played (11 of 29 high school players had CTE, while 110 of 111 professional players had CTE). 86 percent does not represent the prevalence of CTE in football players, as families are more likely to donate if their loved one had symptoms associated with CTE.
Another Boston University study found athletes who played nine or more years of contact sports were six times more likely to develop Lewy Body Disease, a cause of Parkinson's, than those who played eight or fewer years.
Head impacts are more dangerous for developing brains
Children as young as nine years old average 251 head impacts per season. Studies have revealed those who started tackle football before age 12 were more likely to have cognitive, mood and behavior issues as adults, and showed symptoms of neurodegenerative disease like CTE and Alzheimer's disease decades earlier.
Youth Football Cannot Reform Itself
Other sports like soccer, ice hockey, and lacrosse have made major reforms to protect the brains of children. US Soccer has banned heading for children under age 11. USA Hockey does not allow checking until age 13. US Lacrosse has banned body checking under age 14. But football lacks an influential national governing body through which to set an age minimum. Legislation is the best way to enact such a rule.
Football Coaches Support Legislation
Watch: Biff Poggi, head football coach at St. Frances Academy, a top five nationally ranked high school football program, and the former Associate Head Coach at the University of Michigan, supports legislation to eliminate tackle football for children under age 14.
Resources to Learn More
The Concussion Legacy Foundation launched Flag Football Under 14 to encourage parents to delay enrolling their children in tackle football until age 14. Read the scientific reasoning in our White Paper.
Why did we choose age 14? Check out our infographic.
Click here to read why football legends like Brett Favre, Drew Brees, Jim Harbaugh and John Madden think waiting to play tackle football is the safest and best option for youth athletes.
Click here to learn more about CTE.
View information about tackle football legislation state by state:
Tackle football legislation has been introduced in California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. Click on each state to learn more about local legislation efforts.